This is according to a report published by Associated Press.

An existing contract between the state and four Ohio dairy farms was expanded on 31 May to include additional milk for inmates, who consume approximately 1.3 million gallons (4,940,000 litres) of milk each year, the Columbus Dispatch also reported.

The prison agency sold its 1,000-cow herd following a decision to move away from the farm business. The decision came as a surprise to many as a farm improvement project of $9m (€8.01m) was well advanced.

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Prisons director Gary Mohr said the farms were closed due to security concerns and also because the practise of preparing inmates for farm jobs is outdated.

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